With Future Forest #accelerate, we want to support founders with a connection to forest and climate in particular in validating their innovations and developing a "go-to-market" strategy. We are therefore primarily looking for start-ups for the program that have already developed a business model or at best a prototype and are pursuing entrepreneurial goals. However, this also includes non-profit oriented companies. With #accelerate, we also address startups with a sustainable and impact-oriented approach, i.e. you are striving for or are already achieving social and/or ecological added value with your innovation.

Please allow enough time for your application. It will take you about 20-30 minutes to fill out the application form. In the form we ask you about the following things: 

1. Key data and contact details for your startup and you as founder.
   
2. Basic information about your startup, e.g. in which phase your company is currently.
3. Description of your innovation, your desired impact and the competencies of the founding team.
   
4. Your specific needs, especially for mentoring. Specific information will help us to connect you with the right mentors.
   
5. Optional: Finally, you can send us further attachments such as pitch decks.

Yes, if there is a business objective. A startup approach should therefore be recognisable.

Basically yes, as long as a recognisable product or service is available, at best even a prototype. However, we recommend registering for our pillar 1, Future Forest #connect, first. In this program we offer workshops to build up know-how and organise partner events, which are primarily about the development of business ideas.

 

The program lasts a total of 4 months. The program takes place in a hybrid way, i.e. alternating between digital units and events on site in Blankenburg Castle on the edge of the Harz Mountains. We provide accommodation, you organise your travelling arrangements.

By participating in the program, you will be supported in attracting potential customers and finding financing options for your startup. You can also qualify for our lab program, in which we support you in financing specific pilot projects. We currently do not offer a specific investment sum or a project grant (we will develop it in 2023).

The accelerator program itself has an equivalent value of around €20,000 through individual support, free coaching and mentoring, high-quality workshops and the payment of accommodation and meals.

After the application deadline, we go through the individual applications and select promising submissions for our validation sprint. After our final decision-making meeting on April 6, 2023, we will inform you promptly by email whether you made it into the #accelerate program or not. If necessary, we will then organise individual appointments with you via video call to clarify your needs.

We will start the program at the end of April with a digital appointment, where you can already get to know your assigned mentors.

With #accelerate we would like to support you in establishing your business model and bringing your innovations to the market or application as quickly as possible. When making the selection, we therefore evaluate your degree of innovation, check whether your product / service fits our focus topics, how you are set up as a founding team, whether there is potential for matching with our mentors and partners and whether there are sustainable objectives.

In the selection for the 2nd phase (incubation), the jury pays particular attention to the performance of your pitch and whether your innovation has potential for a cooperation and/or pilot project.

Our goal is to build a new ecosystem around innovation topics related to the forest in climate change. To this end, we have launched Europe's first forest and climate accelerator, which addresses the relevant challenges in order to preserve and strengthen the forest's residence. Our programs make you part of a unique network with numerous points of contact and a wide range of support options. For example, we were able to arrange financially attractive follow-up projects for 6 out of 9 startups from our program last year.

The accelerator programs in #connect and #accelerate Validation-Sprint are free because we are currently financing the accelerator through partners and grants. Only travel expenses may arise. We cover accommodation costs in part or in full, meals are included.

For the incubation phase of #accelerate and in our lab program, we have developed fair participation models that are completely risk-free for you. We then define the strategic partnership with your startup in a joint contract in which you can choose between 2 options, provided there is a financing round that is based on the support of our accelerator. In this case, you can then decide to pay the specified commission or to convert the amount into shares. We refrain from participating in non-profit companies.

The program of #accelerate 2023 can be found here on the website. Each year the content varies slightly to respond to the current needs of startups and the market. Some program items have now become established as fixed components, such as pitching your startup at the annual Future Forest Forum, or networking events where you can make exciting contacts with our large community. Another important component is our mentoring program, which we supplement with targeted coaching and workshops. Before the program begins, we will inform you about the detailed program schedule. By the way, compared to usual accelerators, we give great importance to offering you nature experiences and letting you enjoy the unique atmosphere of Blankenburg Castle.

In #accelerate, we expect participation in the online and on-site formats and appointment commitments at meetings with your mentors, partners, and coaches. Otherwise we don't make any further requirements - we just want to develop and scale solutions for the forests of the future together with you.